Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Sept. 29, 1925. ,555,698 v J. F. WCQNNQR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed uw. 22, 1992 2. swam-sheet 1 l Sept. 29, l925.` 1,555,698

' J. Ff. OCGNNDR FRICTION SHOCK ABSOHBING mscmusia Filed Dec. 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 42 'WM5' feg/mf Patented` Sept. 29, 19254.

UNITED STATES 1,555,698 PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN F, OcoNNon, orcnIcAGo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR, BY ivrnsNn ASSIGNMENTS, To

W, ILMINER, INC., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.`

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM.

Application led December 22, 1922. Serial No. 608,393. i

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OCONNOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Friction Sliocl Absorbing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to `the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification. i l

This inventionrelates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

`tionalview of a portion of a railway draft` rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith, the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 2 and corresponding to two intersecting planes at l120o apart. Figures 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sectional views of the shock absorbing mechanism proper corresponding to the lines 2 2 and 3 3 respectively of Figure 1. Figure 4 1s an elevational view looking toward `the 1n- Y terior of the wedge-pressure-transm1ttmg member, with all other parts removed. And Figure 5 isa detail perspective of one of the wedge gripping elements.

In said drawings, 10-10 denote channel draft sills of a car underframe to the inner v faces of which are secured front stop lugs 11 and rear stop lugs 12. A portionof a drawbar is indicated at 13, the same being voperatively associatedv with the shock absorbing mechanism proper by a hooded cast yoke 14 within which is disposed the shock absorbing mechanism and a front follower 15. The yoke and parts therewithin are supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 16.

A The improved shock absorbing mechanism ro er as shown com `rises broadl acombined spring cage and column member A; a spring resistance B; a friction post G; a plurality of friction gripping elements D a `combined pressure-transmitting wedge E; a spring follower F and a retainer bolt G.

The combined springy cage and column member A is in the form of a casting having a front transverse wall 17, top andrbottom horizontal walls 18 18 and inner Avertical integral wall lll/'The rear endfof the cast ing A bears upon aseparate rear follower 20, the latter cooperating with ,the lugs 12, in the usual manner., The` front wall 17 of the casting A isl provided withV an irregular opening circular at the center asindicated at 21, with `six radial slots 22 extending therefrom. Integral with said front `wall 17 and extending forwardly therefrom are six uniformly 'spaced` arms 23 which `are united at their front ends by an in-` tegral `friction post 24 `of hexagonal cross The postor column C has an integral hollow cup-shaped boss 27 at its inner end, the latter being lianged as indicated at 28 to engage under a corresponding flange 29 on the i wall-19 of the casting A. y The inner end of the column C will obviously bear upon the follower 20 and thus provide adequate column strength forthe friction post proper 24.

The pressure-transmitting wedge member E is of hexagonal outline, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the same havinga front fiat face 30 `which bears against `the front follower 15. On its interior, the member E is provided with sixsets of'rearwardly diverging wedge faces 31 and 32 symmetrically arrangedwith respect to the 'axis of the mechanism, the wedge faces 31 and 32 of each setbeing longitudinally spaced, as clearly shown in F igurel. The member E also has an inwardly extendedhollow cup-shaped boss 83 within whichis anchored the front end of the retainer bolt G, the inner end of the latter being anchored within the boss 27, heretofore referred to. A

The shoes D, six in number, are of like construction, each being provided on its outer side with a pair of longitudinally separated wedge faces 34 and 35 cooperable with a lcorresponding set of wedge faces 3l and 32 on the member E. On its side ynearest theaxis -of themechanism, each member is provided with a longitudinally extending flat friction surface 36 which cooperates with the corresponding flat friction surface 37 of ythe friction post proper 24C. The cooperating sets of friction-faces 36and37 diverge inwardly of the mechanism, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

yThe follower F has a. central circular section 88 upon which bears the front end of the two-coil spring resistance B. The circular section 38 lof the -follower is centrally apertured as indicated at 39'to ladapt it to slide with respect to the column or post C. Forwardly of the circular section 38, the follower F Ais provided with six-arms 40 which project through radial recesses 22 of Athe casting A., said arms 40 haidng'iingerlike extensions .t1-.4l attheir front ends which enga-ge 'the inner'jends 42 of the respective friction shoes or gripping elements D. Y

The operation of the mechanism, assuming a compression stroke under buff, is as follows. Asthe front follower l5 moves inwardly, the wedge member E is forced' to travel longitudinally inunison therewith.

YThis movement 'of the member 'E in turn forces the friction shoesnor vgripping elements D in the same directiony with a wedge action setup upon the cooperating sets of faces 31-341an'd 32-35. l The shoes D are ,yieldingly resisted by the spring resistance B through the yintermediary of the follower F. As 'the member E and shoes D travel inwardly, friction is generated between lthe shoes D and the friction post l24 :and there will be a gradual diEe-rential action on the shoes D as the latter travel lengthwise of the Vtapered friction post proper 24. This accommodated byl differential action is leaving an initial clearance 'between the sides of the shoes D and the side walls vof the member E, as shown in Figure l. The end of the compression stroke is determined by the member E coming into engagement with the casting A and also by the member E coming into engagement with the front vend ofthe friction post, it being observed that the latter is suitably recessed to .accommodate the cup-shaped boss 33 therew-ithin. Upon discontinuance of the actuating force, the spring B will react through the fol-'lower F to project the shoes D and member'E f orwardly, the release beiii-g facilitated by reason of the relatively blunt ang-le of the wedge faces-which may be employed and by reason of the outward taper of the cooperatingsets of friction surfaces 36 and '37.

From the preceding description, it vwill be seen that I have provided a mechanism lwhich is self-contained and may be shippet as an assembledunit; that an automa-tic compensation for wear-1s provide-d for, in-

asmuch las the shoes D and follower F may .gradually work forwardly; Jthat adequate housings for the spring and friction creatring parts are provided; and that the entire arrangement gives the within thef'scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: YAl. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a kspring cage having a transverse outer end wall; o'f/a spring resistance within said cage.; a friction post exterior to the cage; means between said post and cage yfor rigidly connecting the same; a bracing column between said post yand the end wall 'of the cage;

friction shoes cooperable with said post; pressure transmitting means coopera-ble with A the shoes and having wedging engagement with the latter; and Ameans for transferring the resistance `of `said springs to vsaidy shoes.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage; of a vseries of spaced arms Ionrsaid cage; a spring resista-nce within the cage.; a friction `post disposed exteriorly of the cage, said post being fixed to said spaced arms; wedge friction gripping means cooperable with said post and disposed .f-eXteriorly of'said cage; andmeans for transferring the resist-ance of said spring to said wedge fric- Ition gripping means.

3. In a friction 'shockl absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring'cage proper and a friction post integrally formed therewith `and projecting from one end thereof, said post having longitudinal friction surfaces angularly disposed with reference to each other; a spring resistance within the cage proper; a column member cooperable with said friction post proper; a plurality of friction shoes surrounding said post, each cooperable with oney of the friction surfaces of said post; pressuretransmitting and wedging means cooperable l with the outer sides of said shoes; and means.y interposed between said spring resistance and said shoes 'arranged 4.te aHord a yielding resistance to `movement of the latter relatively to the post and cage.

t. In a 'friction shock Aabsorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage proper having a tapered friction'post projecting from one end thereof, saidend of the cage being apertured; a spring resistance within the cage proper; a'column mem- A ber extending between said post and the opposite end of the spring cage; friction shoes cooperable with said post; pressure-transmitting wedging means cooperable with the shoes; and a spring follower at the end of said spring resistance nearest the friction post, said follower having portions thereof projecting through said opening in the end wall of the cage proper, said portions engaging the adjacent ends of the friction shoes.

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a spring cage casting adapted to function also as a column-load-sustaining member, said casting having a tapered friction post integrally formed therewith and projecting from one end of the cage proper; a spring resistance within the cage; a plurality of friction shoes cooperable with said post; a hollow pressure-transmitting member surrounding said shoes and having wedge faces on the interior thereof cooperable with corresponding wedge faces of the shoes, said member being adapted to engage the casting to limit the compression stroke; and a spring follower mounted within said cage proper and having -portions thereof projecting outwardly to engage the adjacent ends of the friction shoes. j,

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of Oct. 1922.

JOI-IN F. OCONNOR. 

